Practical – Trends in the Periodic Table

Reactivity of the group 17 elements - the halogens

Ref: Saunders N. 2000, Creative Chemistry
You have seen that the Group 1 alkali metal elements increase in reactivity as you go down
the group. Sodium is less reactive than potassium, which is less reactive than rubidium
(which you weren’t allowed to observe directly!) Today, you will use displacement reactions
to work out the order of reactivity of the Group 17 halogen elements using chlorine,
bromine and iodine.

Hypothesis:
Predict the order of reactivity of the three halogens and justify your prediction.

The reactivity will decrease as you further down the group. This is due to their decreased
electro negativity because the shells are getting further away from the nucleus. With Chlorine
being the most reactive and iodide the least reactive.

Materials:
Safety glasses 0.2M potassium chloride solution
Black tray 0.2M potassium bromide solution
Spotting tile 0.2M potassium iodide solution
Teat pipette chlorine water
Distilled water bromine water
Iodine water

Procedure:

1. Using a plastic pipette put two drops of chlorine solution in each of the three dimples in a
row on the spotting tile, as shown below. In the same way and using a clean plastic pipette
for each solution, add bromine water, and iodine solution to the spotting tile.

2. Add two drops of potassium chloride solution to each of the three dimples in column 1 of
the tile. Observe and record any colour changes that take place.
3. Add two drops of potassium bromide solution to each of the three dimples in column 2 of
the tile. Observe and record any colour changes that take place
4. Add two drops of potassium iodide solution to each of the three dimples in column 3 of the
tile. Observe and record any colour changes that take place.
Safety:
Discuss any safety considerations related to the materials or method and how you minimised the
risks.

When handling the chlorine solution care must be taken to avoid contact with skin and eyes.
If the chlorine gets in someone's eye, it must be flushed out with water immediately for at
least 30 minutes.

When handling bromine care must be taken to avoid contact with skin as it can cause severe
burns. Inhalation of bromine can irritate the nose. Contact with the eyes can severely irritate
and burn the eyes. If bromine gets into someone's eye it must be flushed out immediately.

When handling iodine care must be taken to avoid contact with the skin and eyes as contact
with iodine can burn or irritate. If contact is made with the eyes, the eyes must be flushed out
immediately. If iodine is inhaled it can irritate the nose or mouth.

All three halide solutions will cause irritation to skin if contact is made.

Make sure to wear goggles and aprons.

Method:

Prepare a clean spotting tile.

Use a plastic pipette to place two drops of chlorine into the dimples in a row
Do the same for the remaining halogens
Use the plastic pipette to add the halide solutions in the columns, different ones in each
column.

Results:
Fill in the table as you complete the practical. Add a labelled photograph and provide a caption.

Initial colour of halide solutions and colour after mixing

Halide
+
+ Potassium
Potassium + Potassium iodide
Halogen Initial colour chloride (Cl-
bromide (I-)
)
(Br-)
Chlorine Colourless Yellow
(Cl )
2

water
 Colourless Orange/Brown

Bromine Orange
(Br ) 2

water Yellow Yellow Red/Brown

Iodine (I )2 Yellow
water
Orange/brown Yellow Yellow

Question:
Why are some of the boxes in the table greyed out?

Because no reaction took place.

Analysis:
1. Summarise the results obtained for each halogen.

The initial colour of chlorine was a clear colour. When potassium chloride was added the
colour was still clear. When potassium bromide was added the solution became yellow and
when potassium iodide was added the solution became a orange/ brown colour.

The bromine was originally orange. When potassium chloride was added the bromine diluted
and became yellow as it did when potassium bromide was added. When potassium iodide was
added the solution became a red/brown colour.

The initial colour of the iodine was orange. When potassium chloride, potassium bromide and
potassium iodide was added the solution diluted and became a yellow colour.

2. Write word equations for the combinations that DID result in a displacement reaction
occurring (i.e. a definite colour change was observed)
**Note: there should only be three equations!!
Word equations for the three chemical equations that occured are below.

Chlorine+Potassium Bromide--->Potassium chloride+bromine

Chlorine+Potassium Iodide--->Potassium chloride+Iodide
Bromine+Potassium Iodide--->Potassium Bromide+Iodide

3. Research the chemical equations for the displacement reactions.

Cl2(aq) + 2KBr(aq)→2KCl(aq)+Br2(aq)
2KI(aq) + Cl (aq) → 2KCl(aq) + I (aq)
2 2

Br2(aq) +2KI(aq) ---->2KBr(aq) + I2(aq)

4. Write the electron configuration for each halogen tested, using subshell notation.
Contrast the similarities and differences in the configurations.
Chlorine:[Ne] 3s 3p 2 5

Bromine:[Ar] 3d 4s 4p 10 2 5

Iodine:[Kr] 4d 5s 5p
10 2 5

Each of these elements has 7 valence electrons. The Atomic radius increases as you descend
the group/
5. Write the order of reactivity for the halogens, from most to least reactive.
The halogens in order of reactivity are:
Fl-Cl-Br-I-At-Ts

6. Describe the trend in reactivity of the Group 17 elements compared to their order on the
periodic table.

Halogens become more reactive as you descend the group.

7. Explain how the trend in reactivity is related to the trends in electronegativity and atomic
radii down a group.
As you descend the group the atomic radius increases. Because of this the electronegativity
decreases as there is more ‘shielding’ between the valence shell and the positive nucleus.

8. What results would you expect if fluorine water and potassium fluoride were available to
test?
Predict what would occur in the following mixtures. If a reaction would occur, write the
names of any products formed. If no reaction, state “no reaction”.
a. Fluorine + potassium chloride ---→Fluorine+Potassium chloride

b. Fluorine + potassium bromide --→Fluorine+Potassium bromide

c. Fluorine + potassium iodide --→Fluorine+Potassium iodide

9. State at least two possible sources of error in this experiment.

The amount of each aqueous solution

Use of naked eye to measure colour

Contamination of spotting tile

10. For each error listed, research and suggest possible improvements to the method that
would have minimised the error. At least one suggestion must relate to the use of digital
technology.
Cleaning of the spotting tile

Use of a spectrometer to assess the colour of the liquids

Use a more precise piece of equipment to measure the liquids

Conclusion:
State whether your results support your hypothesis and justify this using your results.

The hypothesis has been supported as the reactivity of halogens decreased further down the group.
This is seen by the fact that chlorine reacted with the most number of solutions. This is because the
atomic radius increases which means the electronegativity decreases,